Spain and other European countries agree to take steps towards recognizing the State of Palestine

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Friday, that his country had agreed with the leaders of Ireland, Malta and Slovenia on the first steps towards recognizing a Palestinian state.

Sanchez made the comments after a European Council meeting in Brussels.

Regarding Spain, Sanchez expressed his expectation of recognition during the current 4-year legislative period, which began last year.

Sanchez told reporters that the agreement was reached with the leaders of Ireland, Malta and Slovenia at a meeting held on Friday morning, on the sidelines of the European Council summit.

A joint statement issued by Ireland after the meeting indicated that the only way to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region is to implement a two-state solution, where the Israeli and Palestinian states live side by side in peace and security.

These steps from European countries come one day after a letter from 19 US Senators was sent to President Joe Biden, in which they called for work to implement the two-state solution in Palestine, expressing their disappointment at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s refusal to cooperate to establish a Palestinian state.

Last February, Netanyahu announced his rejection of international demands for a permanent settlement with the Palestinians, and his opposition to unilateral international recognition of the Palestinian state.

Arab and international calls are increasing to implement the two-state solution as a basis for resolving the conflict between Palestine and Israel and achieving peace in the region.